2008 Ford F-250: Project Gator

An ’08 F-250 Built for All Occasions

Thirty-three-year-old Randy Wilson of Miami, Florida, always had a passion for big trucks. With hobbies like mudding and ruining lawns, you almost have to have something big and powerful. When Randy ventured over to a Ford dealership near Ft. Lauderdale, he instantly fell in love with an ’08 Ford F-250 Lariat 4x4. It didn’t take long before he began putting miles on his new rig, making sure it was completely broken in. “I certainly didn’t buy a truck to keep it clean,” Randy tells us with a smile. “It’s here to get dirty.”

Deciding his truck needed a bit more power and accessories, Randy did his homework and contacted Jordan at Wicked Customs in Naples, Florida. Together, they decided to go with a theme of Randy’s choice. As a hard-core Florida Gators football fan, Randy chose to give his Ford a Gators theme. The entire crew at Wicked went straight to work, starting with the lift. A 14-inch Wicked suspension lift was added using 2.5-inch Wicked coilovers and 2.0 Wicked bypass shocks. High-clearance radius arms were added and a hydraulic ram assist was fitted for easy turns at all speeds. Wicked installed a high-angle HD drag link and a high-angle HD adjustable track bar and rear traction bars. All the shocks and accents were powdercoated in orange to resemble the Florida Gators colors.

The driveline received custom touches: a Tom Wood’s Double Cardan front driveshaft, and an extended rear driveshaft. Other additions Wicked Customs made were an indexed transfer case, 5.38 Yukon gears, ARB lockers, an air compressor kit, and Mag-Hytec buzzed differential covers—all painted orange. On the outside of the rugged Ford, Wicked Customs added an HID lighting system with an LED vehicle bulb conversion. A hitch was added and coated in Gator orange. The interior kept the factory Lariat package but received a JVC navigation unit and JL Audio components throughout the cabin. JL Audio subwoofers provide the thump from the JL Audio amplifiers.

To give the 4x4 some added horsepower, Jordan from Wicked added an Airaid cold-air intake, Gibson dual exhaust, AGR steering pump with oversized steering pump lines, and SCT tuning. To round out the F-250, a set of black coated 22x14 American Force BAUS wheels was added. For rubber, a set of 40x15.50R22 Nitto Mud Grappler tires covered the wheels.

With a truck built for the sole purpose of getting dirty, the crew at Wicked Customs couldn’t have done a better job. Within hours of picking up the Ford, Randy was in mud halfway up the tires. “I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way, especially the hardworking guys at Wicked,” Randy tells us. “They made something I can truly be happy with.” Whether it’s rumbling through that Florida mud or tailgating at a Gators game, Randy has a truck built for all occasions.